One Cup Coffee with #1 Best-Selling Author, Mom, Entrepreneur, and Motivational Speaker Kristina Ellis

A college education can lay the foundation for a successful future – it can also become a costly burden that weighs heavy long after graduation. After earning over $500,000 in scholarships, Kristina Ellis dedicated her career to showing others there’s a better way to pay for school.

A college education can lay the foundation for a successful future – it can also become a costly burden that weighs heavy long after graduation. After earning over $500,000 in scholarships, Kristina Ellis dedicated her career to showing others there’s a better way to pay for school. Ellis has worked with students and universities across the nation teaching the importance of paying for college without taking on debt. Her advice has been featured in major media outlets like U.S. News & World Report, NBC and The Ramsey Show. So, what’s the key to a debt-free education? Ellis says it’s applying for scholarships, and the process is a lot easier than people think. When Ellis’ mother told her she had to figure out how to fund her future, Ellis got down to business. Her impressive scholarship load includes the titles Bill & Melinda Gates Scholar and Coca-Cola National Scholar. In her career, Ellis has helped over 100,000 students apply for college, helping them earn several million dollars in scholarship awards. The biggest step someone can take in getting free money for college is the first one. As Ellis puts it, “just get started!” There’s a vast number of scholarships up for grabs, and the worst thing students can do is not even apply in the first place. Now a bestselling author, Ellis is committed to providing tailored financial solutions with her new company College Ninja. She guides students and their parents on how to attend college debt- free with strategies including scholarships, grants, work-study programs and calculating return on investment (ROI). To learn more, watch this KOFETalk podcast where we dive in with Ellis to discuss financial wellness, college planning, and much more. KOFE: Knowledge of Financial Education prepares you for financial success with a variety of resources, including in-depth information on budgeting, debt management, savings strategies, and other essential financial literacy topics.